Deadly Creatures (Wii) Review

Deadly Creatures is an unorthodox take on the action adventure genre that combines gorgeous atmospheric levels, involved combat, non-traditional storytelling and two of the most atypical heroes ever seen in a video game. It is squarely aimed at the traditional gamer and manages to closely follow tried-and-true gameplay styles, while introducing new elements that easily manage to set it apart from similar games. Players will instantly feel at home with the game system, but will be constantly surprised at the variations available due to the nature of the protagonists. There are some slight technical issues that sometimes get in the way of the fun, but these never impact too badly on the game. Deadly Creatures is a brave effort from publisher THQ and developer Rainbow Studios and shows that inspiration can come from the lowliest and smallest of places.

The story, which is part adventure, part mystery, and a little horror, revolves around two human characters, George Struggs, perfectly voiced by Dennis Hopper, and Wade, equally well voiced by Billy Bob Thornton, as they search for American Civil War gold buried somewhere in the desert. Events are revealed from the perspective of two arachnid characters, a tarantula and a scorpion, as they cross paths with each other and the somewhat sinister George and Wade. The story is revealed through a combination of Wade’s narration, and bits and pieces of conversation between the two human characters overheard throughout the arachnids’ journey. It is very non-traditional storytelling, but it works extremely well in this setting.

The game opens with a rather ominous narration from Wade revealing that George is now in a coma after some sort of catastrophic event. He continues on, saying that before falling unconscious, George was raving to the police about something to do with deadly creatures. Instantly the action switches to the tarantula as it wanders around a seemingly lifeless desert landscape. Soon enough it is obvious that the tarantula is not alone, with lots of other creatures scurrying about, including a scorpion. The tarantula and the scorpion cross paths and soon after, both creatures encounter the two human characters. The arachnids go about the task of surviving in their hostile environment and at the same time bear silent witness to the unfolding story of George and Wade. Before long the tarantula and the scorpion find themselves drawn into the drama with some unexpected consequences for all. Moving either character around is simple, with the nunchuck’s analogue stick controlling movement and the Wii-remote used for more complex tasks like fighting. A combination of motion controls and button presses are utilised during the game and they are mostly quite responsive. Occasionally the action heats up a bit too much and the motion controls can feel a little cumbersome, but overall they work just fine.

Make no mistake, Deadly Creatures could have easily been done without the Wii-remote and in many instances would have been more enjoyable, but there are certainly plenty of moments where the motion controls work wonderfully and add tremendously to the immersion. The most obvious of these is the scorpion’s array of finishing moves, which require the player to use motions to execute quite brutal finishing moves on its opponents. Immersing the player in the microscopic world of its protagonists is something that Deadly Creatures manages to pull off wonderfully. Beautifully realised environments, detailed character models, crisp textures, creepy music and a real sense of claustrophobia help pull the player into the game’s world.

There are plenty of great little touches that help add to the believability of the world, with more than one environment sure to elicit at least a gasp from most players, and often a chuckle or two. The small stature of the protagonists allows everyday objects to become immense obstacles. A ute turned on its side manages to create so many great moments as the spider crawls through its insides, the skeletal remains of a cow becomes a great hiding place for insects trying to avoid being eaten. Everything in the world is lovingly crafted with fantastically fluid animation and sound effects that make the skin crawl. On top of that, the voice work by two of Hollywood’s most talented actors really helps to drive the story on in a way that most other games can only dream of achieving.

Controlling a tarantula and a scorpion means players will get to experience the action from a completely different perspective than any other game. Crawling around on the walls and the ceilings of small tunnels in the desert, surviving the kill or be killed world of insects and interacting with everyday objects turned enormous creates so many opportunities for great gameplay experiences. In some ways there was no way for the developers to realise all of the potential of the setting and in other ways they have managed to immerse the player in the microscopic world quite well. The game often plays out like a traditional third person action game, but throughout the adventure, the game often bends the usual rules of the genre and revells in the unique abilities and nature of the protagonists. Too bad then that the levels are so linear, as the freedom afforded by the crawl-anywhere nature of the characters just begs for a more open world to explore. It is easy to imagine the Deadly Creatures experience translating extremely well into an open world adventure.

Technically the game falls a little short of the high standard set by the audio-visual presentation with a few technical glitches that impact negatively on the gameplay. Mid-level loading points often interrupt the flow of the action and a sometimes wonky camera can make some battles more difficult than intended. Character models sometimes get caught in the scenery and artificial walls often limit the extent of the exploration. The game is also a little short on content, clocking in at about 10 hours with no multiplayer or other modes available. The quality of the game is high though, so game length should be a minor concern. There are a few unlockable extras including concept art galleries and interviews with the cast, so dedicated players will have plenty of reason to go back for at least a second turn.

Deadly Creatures is an excellent action adventure game that really takes advantage of its setting to create a unique experience full of atmosphere and fun. Some slight technical issues aside, the game is well made, makes excellent use of the Wii-remote and looks and sounds fantastic. While the story is a little light on, it is told in a non-traditional manner that keeps things interesting and compelling right until the end.

Personal thoughts

I loved Deadly Creatures. The superb atmosphere and cool abilities of the tarantula and scorpion will make you love it too. If you are a hardcore gamer, this is exactly the kind of experience you have been waiting for on the Wii. The first time you pull of one of the gruesome finishing moves with the scorpion will make you smile. The fact that they never get boring is just icing on the cake. The cool boss encounters are fun and the interwoven story of George and Wade is entertaining and interesting enough to tie everything together really well. Yes there are some problems, most noticeably the camera and the sometimes annoying motion controls, but overall the game is of very high quality. Something I was starting to think third parties were incapable of producing on the Wii. I do wish the game were not so linear though. A Grand Theft Auto style open world game with these characters and mechanics would absolutely rock. I can just easily imagine running around a neighbourhood, scaring children, chasing insects and generally wreaking havoc on a minuscule scale. It would be great and I hope it is something that is achieved if there is a sequel. If you like action adventure games, this is definitely something for you. Everyone else should give it a try as there is plenty to like about Deadly Creatures. Also, this game deserves credit for one of the best title screens ever created for a video game. Worth the price of admission alone.